What will it take to get Allen?

Matthew Postins

04/21/2008

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are believed to be preparing for a meeting with Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen in the coming days. Is there an offer already on the table? According to a league source, the Bucs are believed to have already made an offer to the Chiefs for the disgruntled end. Find out more here.

Vikingupdate.com's Tim Yotter reported over the weekend that the Minnesota Vikings offered a first-round and third-round pick to the Chiefs for Allen, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 15 ½. But Allen left Minnesota without a deal getting done, leaving hope for the Buccaneers that Allen could still be had via trade.

However, Minnesota's offer is considered an enticing one and the Vikings have more ammunition than the Buccaneers, as they have nine selections to Tampa Bay's five.

Yotter also reported that Minnesota could up its offer to a first-round pick in 2008 and a second-round pick in 2009 and has a framework for a six-year deal in place that would pay Allen close to $30 million.

The Bucs have reportedly offered a first-round and a fifth-round pick for Allen, but Yotter's source said that the Bucs could increase their offer in an effort to add Allen to their pass rush.

The Bucs improved that pass rush to 32 sacks in 2007 and have their top two rushers in Gaines Adams (6 sacks) and Greg White (8 sacks) returning. But both are entering their second full NFL seasons. Allen would be an immediate starter and add veteran ballast to the pass rush.

The Chiefs have reportedly set a mid-week deadline on offers so it can make a decision before the draft. New England and Jacksonville are reportedly interested as well, though Minnesota and Tampa Bay are the most likely destinations. Allen is still scheduled to meet with the Bucs, though it's unclear when.

Nick Athan of War Paint Illustrated, Scout.com's Chiefs site, told Vikingupdate.com that the Chiefs would likely take the best offer for them without taking into account Allen's wishes.

The Buccaneers have a history of giving up large chunks of their draft in one deal. In 2000 the Bucs traded their two first-round picks to the New York Jets for WR Keyshawn Johnson. In 2002 the Bucs gave up two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Oakland to hire Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.

Matthew Postins covers the Buccaneers for BucsBlitz.com and the Charlotte Sun-Herald in Port Charlotte, Fla. An award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers Association, he appears frequently on Scot Brantley Show from 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WHBO 1470-AM in Tampa-Clearwater.